Poppystar and Difficulties of Moral Decisions [ONE-SHOT]

[Whitefire]

Poppystar's gaze tracked the movements of the severely wounded warrior with the intensity of an owl in hunt, dark green eyes narrowed in deep thought. He said he was attacked by a mad animal. Her lips curled upwards briefly at the thought, before shifting her gaze to the warrior that had came back with the bitten one. What if he infects the rest of the clan? It's only a matter of time for he attacks someone. And the symptoms of the animal that attacked the warrior... It's connected SOMEHOW. She let out an irritated huff, drawing her claws through the soil.

Uncurling her body from atop a fallen tree, she landed on the ground neatly and trotted across the clearing. There was an underlying tension in her muscles, but it wasn't obvious unless someone was watching her intensely. Poppystar was worried. She was a positive she-cat over-all, pretty supportive usually. Poppystar didn't mind agreeing to something as long as it didn't harm the clan in the process. She released a pent-up huff, staring at the streams that filtered into the camp.

If she banished him from the Clan, there was a possibility that he would infect more cats. Then more cats would contract the disease. If there was an outbreak among the clans... Poppystar's blood ran cold. They would be wiped out in seasons if not moons. If she let him stay in the clan, there would be cats killed. Was there even a cure for this disease? But... what if they outright killed him? StarClan help her. What if cats contracted the disease while killing him? He would fight back, sure.

Letting out another frustrated huff, Poppystar glowered heavily at the ground and ignored the warriors around her. She could feel the slightly worried, wary expressions of her Clanmates piercing into her pelt. She could imagine their thoughts right now. 'Is she okay? Why's she so frustrated? Is it about the wounded warrior? Why can't she come up with a decision NOW? Maybe she should calm down.' Poppystar thought sarcastically, scuffing her paws through the damp soil and giving it another murderous glare.

A sudden ruckus at the Clan entrance had her head shoot up swiftly, green eyes narrowed from her roiling thoughts. It was the wounded Clanmate, the bite from the animal large on his shoulder. Currently, he was bickering with the others. Why couldn't he go on patrol? 'You're sick, Stonefur.' The light gray tomcat hissed angrily, his claws sheathing and unsheathing with every angry pant. Poppystar trotted across the camp in swift, long movements, her green eyes stern and unforgiving.

"Go lay down."her eyes flashed so quickly and coldly that the other cats flinched back heavily, their eyes wary and lingering. What was wrong with their leader? This wasn't likeher. Stonefur met her icy eyes in quite obvious disregard, the spittle on his lips a permanent reminder of his illness. It looked like he was about to say something, but Poppystar immediately cut through his words like claws. "Now, Stonefur." she added swiftly, her own words as cutting as the wings of a bird.

Stonefur snarled at her directions, awkwardly lurching off to his nest behind one of the larger trees. Poppystar had separated him from the rest of the Clan on purpose, so he didn't infect anyone while they were sleeping. She was still terrified that would happen, so she was constantly on guard. Before he became ill, Stormfur was a relatively steadfast Clanmate, who loved to help others out. Poppystar felt uncharacteristically negative about the situation, which was making her feel uneasy about the entire situation.

That was it. She was taking care of this tonight. She just needed to do it without anyone else watching. This was RiverClan, and the river wasn't that far. Just.. How was she going to do this? Stonefur was well liked among the clan, and she wasn't the biggest fan of lying to them. She needed to get rid of him. One less warrior was going to hurt them, but they had apprentices nearly ready to become warriors.  Poppystar closed her eyes tightly, her thought processes speeding around her mind like bees. What could she do to keep him from biting her? 

Wait. She was making this too complicated. She couldn't just drown him with a stick in his mouth, or something to make him suffocate in his sleep. Decision made firmly, Poppystar nodded and turned to the cat watching the camp, Rowanheart. His amber eyes watched her carefully, warily. "I'm going out. I'll be back in awhile." she said evenly, ignoring her racing heart and how he watched her calculatingly. "Of course, Poppystar. I'll keep an eye out for you." he murmured, dipping his head.

Poppystar could see the slight doubt in his eyes, but she merely gave him a reassuring purr. "I'm not going mad, Rowanheart." she mewed gently, her eyes full of warmth. "I'm just worried, that's all." Giving him a confident, loud purr, Poppystar swept her tail against his flank and bounded outside of the comforting safety of the camp. Her eyes swept around, looking for the familiar prickly leaves of the home of the deadliest berries alive. Poppystar needed to do this carefully.

After a few arduous hours, her lips curled slightly in disgust as she spotted the familiar bush. Honeyflower had shown her when she was a mere young warrior, and Poppystar had never forgotten the evil berry. The medicine cat had regretted showing her the bush, but the young warrior had never told anyone what and where the bush was. Staring at the deadly berries uncertainly, Poppystar plucked an oak leaf off of the ground to carry two of them. Carefully clawing two berries off of the branches, she rolled them into the leaf, and rolled that roll into a larger leaf. Then she would roll it into a leaf of about the same size.

It would be awhile before she deemed the bundle safe enough to carry. Carefully lifting the roll into her mouth, she made her way slowly to the river. From there, she was patient enough to extract a juicy looking fish, it's silver scales gleaming in the light. Taking a large breath, Poppystar unrolled her package and stared at the deadly berries in a detached sort of curiosity. The fish's mouth was frozen into an 'O' making her task even easier. 

Gently batting the berry into the mouth, Poppystar had to force her paw inside of the fish to make sure the berries were good and stuffed inside of the ribcage. Now, all she had to do was go for a good long swim. From there, she would make sure her paw was washed clean of whatever the berry consisted of. Poppystar's stomach roiled in guilt, but with each traitorous thought, the older leader had to forcefully remind herself that this was for the good of the clan. No-one would get sick! No-one should get sick like Stormfur! 

Wrapping the fish in a heavy coating of ferns and large leaves, Poppystar picked up the fish and made her way back to camp. As she walked through the entrance, she noticed that Rowanheart was giving her a curious, assessing glance. Poppystar's heart raced erratically, her earlier worry coming back to the forefront of her mind. What if someone figures out what I'm doing? Fernwhisker's going to be terribly mad when he finds out! Poppystar mentally shook herself. If! IF! No cat is going to find out. No cat.

Approaching the large tree that Stonefur slept behind, Poppystar's anxiety shot up a notch. What if he doesn't take the bait? What would she do then? Ice shot through her veins like an arrow, causing her to stumble lightly. There were a few cats about the clearing, probably wondering what their leader was doing now. They probably thought that she was as mad as Stonefur by now. As she came up the side of the large tree, Poppystar set down the fish and carefully unwrapped the prey. 

Stonefur was probably extremely hungry right now, especially since he hadn't eaten in awhile. He was worryingly thin, which her bringing him prey would make a lot of sense. 

"Stonefur?" she called softly, tail whisking behind her in agitation. No! Don't show your anxiety in front of him! He'll know! Taking a deep breath she came forward at his vocal reply. "I brought some prey for you." she murmured, taking in his ratty fur and the half-crazy look on his face. Poppystar couldn't help but tense under the gaze of the half-insane depths, which briefly showed a light confusion. 

"I didn't know the leader herself would bring me prey." he rasped sarcastically, glancing down at the fish semi-curiously. Poppystar shifted lightly, but forced herself to stop under his slightly frightening stare. Show no fear, and he won't know. Don't let him see, or smell it. He probably can. "Of course, Stonefur." she forced out softly. "Everyone's worried about you; you're very thin." the last three words were added on as an extra incentive.

Please take the bait, please take the bait, please take the bait. It was nearly sundown, so when she came out from her den in the morning, she could be surprised. Tell people that he died in his sleep. Stonefur eyed her strangely, before sniffing the fish suspiciously. "You didn't poison it, did you?" Poppystar's racing heart nearly leaped out of her throat, but instead she forced the rocketing anxiety down and eyed him almost angrily.

"I would never." she answered flatly, staring him right in the eye and not giving the sickly warrior a chance to know that she was lying. Stonefur merely stared at her, before letting out a slight 'hm' sound and hovering over the fish. Was he going to bite where she thought he would. Her heart was still racing, jumping erratically and increasing her nervousness. Take the bait, take the bait. She whispered in the recesses of her mind. 

Stonefur stared at the fish, before staring at Poppystar accusingly. "You know I can't eat." his voice was pained, full of reproach. "I can't swallow." Fear shot through her veins like an icy river, and as she stared at the gray tomcat, Poppystar could feel it creeping up on her like a cool lake. Getting to her feet, Poppystar slowly backed out of the hollow in the ground. Stonefur's eyes glinted in the dying sunlight, the light of insanity filtering through. 

RUN! her mind yelled at her, and the light gray she-cat shot out from behind the tree like a fox. Paws thundering against the ground, Poppystar could barely register the second addition of paws behind her, and from there she could hear a few more warriors chasing after them. "To the river!" she howled, the idea shooting through her mind like a bullet. This has to work, this has to work! Poppystar spurred her legs forward, leaping across streams and trying to avoid the teeth of the infected feline. 

Panting heavily, she continued to run until she could see the edge of the earth that dropped off into the river. It was a small ledge, but it was enough so that someone could fall into the river. Plus it  was a little shallow, meaning that they could hold someone in the water if they could sit there for long enough. Another idea shot through her fear-muddled mind, increasing her adrenaline. "When I jump to the side, push him in!" she ordered, and after a split moment, she flung herself into the river. 

The iciness of the water split Poppystar from her fear, causing her to look backwards instinctively. With an almighty splash! Stonefur fell into the water and steadily made his way over her. With his sickness, Stonefur was surprisingly slow. Poppystar swam backwards, ducking under and heading towards the bank. Her head broke the surface of the rapidly swirling water, her paws slamming down on the stones in order to pull herself out. 

My Clan will not die off!

"Jump on him!" The warriors eyed her worriedly, warily, and somewhat fearfully. "Now!" she ordered wildly, her eyes full of fear and anxiety for her Clan. "We can't let him live!" They spurred into gear, jumping into the water and pinning down each limb of the sickly gray cat behind them. Surging into the water, Poppystar jumped on top of Stonefur's back. The movement caused the others to let go briefly, but as she sat on the younger warrior's back, they latched onto his limbs firmly. Beneath her, Stonefur struggled mightily against the weight of the other cats.

Poppystar pinned her paws on top of his head, but they were at such a position where he couldn't bite her. After a few long minutes of holding him underwater, she could see the bubbles slowing. Slowing, slowing... until they finally came to a stop. Was he dead? She could feel his body going limp beneath her heavily breathing form, to the point where she could place a paw into his side. Carefully, she felt for the pulse, uncertain if he was still alive.

Breathing heavily, she concentrated on that paw, worried that he was still alive. After a few more moments, she briskly ordered them to get off of the (hopefully) dead warrior. For awhile, they stared at his floating torso in the river. Then as if on an unspoken command, they all met each other's gaze. Poppystar found herself on the receiving end of a few anxious looks, and as she cast a glance over Stonefur's dead body, she let out a ragged sigh of relief.

"He's dead. It's over." she murmured soothingly, dragging herself out of the water. Poppystar's legs ached something fierce, but she wouldn't rest until she knew that her warriors were okay. "This was for the life of the Clan." she said solemnly, but the fire in her eyes was stern and almost obsessive. "This was for all of you." Poppystar was getting old, that she knew. But, she had been a leader for nearly nineteen moons. 

"Leave the body." she said tiredly. "Don't touch it. You could contract the disease." Then she took a deep breath, eyeing the warriors protectively and giving them all a fierce nuzzle. "Let's get back to the camp. And while we do, Dawnstripe, could you bury the fish behind the large tree? No-one should even think of touching that prey. It's poisonous."

Poppystar was probably going to sleep for a moon after this.